Broncos Upset Defending MAC Champion Bowling Green, 55-54

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan took down eight-time defending regular season Mid-American Conference champion Bowling Green Sunday at University Arena, 55-54. Junior Corie Buchanan drove the lane and sank a jumper off the glass with 4.6 seconds left to lift WMU to victory.

A season-high 1,435 were in attendance and it was WMU's annual pink game, as the team wore its white and pink uniforms, supporting the Play 4Kay Foundation.

Sophomore Marquisha Harris
posted her second double-double in as many games and fourth of the
season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, both of which were team highs.

Buchanan, A.J. Johnson and Miracle Woods finished with eight points each. Johnson also totaled three rebounds, three steals and three assists. Woods added six rebounds and three blocks. Aurielle Anderson dished out five of the team's 11 assists.

Western Michigan's win over the Falcons was its third in the last six meetings against BGSU, and the second straight at home, also defeating Bowling Green the last time the two met in Kalamazoo in 2011.

Toledo is the only MAC team to have more success against BGSU in the recent stretch, winning four of the last six meetings.

Western Michigan held the Falcons to just 17.9 percent shooting in the first half and led by as many as 14 in the first period. The Broncos carried a 26-20 lead into halftime and fended off BGSU's best attempt at a comeback in the second.

The Broncos led by two heading into the final minute, 53-51. A three-pointer by BG'S Chrissy Steffen went off the mark and Alexis Rogers came up with an offensive rebound for the Falcons. The ball got kicked out to Jillian Halfhill on the right wing and she knocked down a three with 19.7 seconds remaining to put Bowling Green up, 54-53. The Broncos brought the ball across midcourt and called a timeout with 15.9 seconds remaining to set up the winning shot.

Buchanan drove the right side of the lane and kissed the game-winner off the glass over BG defender Danielle Havel. Steffen had a final half-court heave for Bowling Green that didn't draw iron.

The win was WMU's second consecutive, after defeating Kent State on the road Thursday, 58-40, and improved the Broncos' record to 8-15 overall and 4-6 in the MAC. Bowling Green slipped to 15-8, 6-4 MAC.

Western Michigan shot 50 percent from the field in the game, its best clip during conference play. Bowling Green shot 38.7 percent in the second half and 27.1 percent for the afternoon.